Device providing picture visibility from all sides

ABSTRACT

A device for providing object visibility from all sides comprises a cylinder having an opaque surface interrupted by a plurality of transparent sections forming viewing slots elongated in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and a like plurality of objects mounted inside the cylinder, with each object being associated with a viewing slot. The cylinder rotates around the longitudinal axis at a high angular velocity to enable viewing of the object through the slots. The objects can be, for example, an inscription, a picture, a three-dimensional object, a running inscription, a mobile picture, a mobile three-dimensional object or any combination thereof.

The existing information media, such as advertising panels, illuminatedinscriptions on walls and high buildings, LED and LCD displays and TVscreens are not visible from all sides but only from a single directionfrom a specific viewing angle.

The information media which are exposed to several sides, e.g.four-panel boards, are visible from all sides, but the viewer can alsosee the adjacent information medium, whereas the information is seenfrom the right angle from certain positions only.

The information media which turn around a vertical axle, e.g. two-panel,three-panel revolving boards, are visible from all sides, but theinformation is not simultaneously visible from all sides.

As a matter of fact, the device providing picture visibility from allsides, such as referred to in this invention, is a fast rotating opaquecylinder is discontinued lengthwise by a transparent slot, whereby thecylinder rotates at high angular velocity around its axle together withthe object. The transparent slot is positioned in front of the object.Depending on the type of the viewed object (two-dimensional object,three-dimensional object), the latter shall be of appropriate design, sothat the picture of the object is visible in the desired form.

The device providing picture visibility from all sides, as referred toin this invention, will be explained in detail on the basis of theexample and the pictures, whereof

FIG. 1 shows the device referred to in this invention, which providesvisibility of the identical pictures of the object from all sides, aspartial section and as side view;

FIG. 2 shows the device referred to in this invention, which providesvisibility of the identical pictures of the object from all sides, assections A—A and B—B;

FIG. 3 shows the diagram of the device referred to in this invention,providing picture visibility of viewed objects in the form ofinscription and three-dimensional object, as partial section and sideview as well as the respective ground plan;

FIG. 4 shows the diagram of the device which provides visibility of thedifferent pictures of the object from different viewing directions, as aground plan and with reference to display brightness in positions α1,α2, α3 . . . αn;

FIG. 5 shows an example of the β1, β2, β3 . . . βn viewing angle range,whereby the viewer can see a different picture of the object at everyviewing angle.

The device providing picture visibility of an object and/or of severalobjects from all sides and whereof the basic design is shown in FIG. 3allows for viewing of a three-dimensional object 3a (static and mobilethree-dimensional object) and of a two-dimensional object 3b(inscriptions, pictures, mobile pictures, running inscription) from allsides, with high frequency, identically to all viewers around thedevice, whenever an opaque cylinder 1 with the object 3 rotates at highangular velocity around its axle; the transparent slot 2 lengthwisediscontinuing the opaque cylinder 1 is always located in front of theobject 3. The opaque cylinder I may be a dark and non-shiny tube with acut-out slot 2 or a colourless transparent tube covered with a dark,opaque and non-shiny layer discontinued for the width of the transparentslot 2, or an opaque cylinder 1 discontinued by a transparent slot 2which during the operation constantly interrupts the opaque cylinder inthe way that it is constantly in front of the object 3. Suchthree-dimensional object 3a as well as the two-dimensional object 3bshall be appropriately shaped. The two-dimensional object 3b, ifinscription or picture, must be curved to give a straight pictureprovided by the device. The three-dimensional object 3b must be deformedto give the desired object picture provided by the device. The curvedshape and/or the deformation of the viewed object 3 depends on thedistance of the object 3 from the slot 2 as well as on the purpose ofthe device. With the device in question, designed for remote viewing,the objects 3 are strongly deformed, but with devices designed forviewing at short distances the objects 3 are less deformed.

The width of the slot 2 influences the quality of the picture of theobject 3. With a narrow slot 2 the picture of the object 3 is sharpenough, but less bright. With a wide slot 2 the situation is, however,just the opposite.

To provide a high frequency (not blinking) picture of the object it isnecessary to increase the frequency of the device itself, which can beachieved by increasing the number of revolutions or by increasing thenumber of transparent slots and identical objects 3.

The objects 3 under observation may be real objects (a two-dimensionalinscription 3b fixed to the structure; a three-dimensional object 3afixed to the structure of the device) or apparent objects (object 3 as aholographic projection; object 3 is apparent, its visibility can beachieved on the optical level, with mirrors, prisms, lenses etc.).

The objects 3 under observation shall be bright enough. They may be wellilluminated or they radiate light themselves. The brightness of objects3 shall be a high-frequency one or constant on a micro time interval.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an example of the structure of the device referred toin this invention, which consists of a fast rotating rotor, a drivingunit, an electric system which enables transmission of electric currentto the rotor and to the housing of the device.

The rotor consists of a dark non-shiny tube with three transparent slots2, three curved two-dimensional objects 3 with inscription, cover 10 and11, slip rings and wires for electric current transmission to lightsources 7, which makes the electric system 13 in the rotor, bearing 14,lamellas 6 and light sources 7.

The rotor is assembled in the way that the tube 1 and thetwo-dimensional objects 3 fit tightly into the grooves of the covers 10and 11. The slip rings of the electric system 13, the lamellas 6 and thelight sources 7 are fixed to the rotor structure, whereas the bearings14 are pressed into the covers 10 and 11. The transparent slots 2 arepositioned in front of the objects 3.

The rotor rotates on the axle 4 on bearings 14 and is axially blockedwith a axial clamp ring 15. The rotor is driven via the shaft 5 by theelectromotor 12. The shaft 5 is fixed by screw to the cover 11, whereason the shaft of the electromotor 12 it is protected against distortionwith a wedge.

The plate 16 is fixed by screw to the base 19. The electromotor 12, theaxle 4 and the brushes of the electric system 13 are fixed by screw tothe plate 16.

The protective external transparent tube 17 is mounted and fixed byscrew to the housing 19 and cover 18.

The dark non-shiny tube 1 may be provided with cut-out slots 2 or thetransparent tube is covered with a dark, opaque, non-shiny layer,discontinued for the width of the transparent slot 2.

The width of the slot 2 influences the quality of the picture of theobject 3. If the slot 2 is narrow, the picture of the object is sharpenough, but its brightness is worse. With a wide slot 2 the situation isjust the opposite.

The two-dimensional object 3 is illuminated by light sources 7. Theillumination of the object 3 may be increased by application of aninternal chrome coating of the tube 1, which provides less heating ofthe tube 1 due to light sources 7.

Internal cooling of the device referred to in this invention, which isheated by the light sources 7, is achieved with objects 3, withboreholes 8 on the lower cover 10 and with boreholes 9 on the uppercover 11. The boreholes 8 are located at a different distance from therotor axle than the boreholes 9.The width of the visible part of the picture of the viewed object 3 islimited with lamellas 6.To provide a high frequency (not blinking) picture of the inscription onthe object 3, the device shall operate at sufficient frequency. In thecase explained this can be achieved with three transparent slots 2, withthree two-dimensional objects 3 and with a sufficiently high number ofrevolutions of the electromotor 12.The transmission of electric current to the rotating part of the deviceis effected through the electric system 13, which consists of brushes,electric installation and slip rings.The safety of the device can be achieved with a safety transparent tube17.FIG. 4 shows the diagram of the device which allows for high-frequencydisplay of different pictures of object viewed by viewers standingaround the device. Such pictures of the objects 3 are different,depending on the viewers' positions around the device. Object 3 is theelectronic display.The electronics of the displayed object 3—the electronic display shalloperate in the way that at an angle a1 the first column of the displayS1 lights up, at the angle α2 the second column of the display S2 lightsup, at the angle α3 the third column of the display S3 lights up, at theangle αn . . . the nth column of the display Sn lights up. Then thedisplay is visible only in one direction and the column shall be lit fora certain time interval only. The cycle of consecutive lighting up ofthe first, the second . . . the nth column makes up the desired pictureof the object which the viewer can see as a true, non-blinking picture.The time interval of column brightness determines the viewing angle βunder which the picture of the object is still visible with reference tothe original direction.The angle β may be of different size, yet within such limits that thedisplay can be visible as whole. By changing the viewing distance R, theviewed picture of the display becomes curved, which results invisibility of only a certain width of the display picture. The aboveproblems can be avoided with a sufficient angle β and a displaydepending on the viewing distance, whereof the consequence is a limitednumber of different display pictures exposed to viewing.At viewing beyond the angle β, the viewer can see a new display picture.FIG. 5 shows the viewing angle ranges β1, β2, β3, . . . βn, in which theviewer can see the picture of the object 3 which may be different fromevery viewing angle.

1. A device for providing object visibility from all sides, the devicecomprising: a cylinder having an opaque surface interrupted by aplurality of transparent sections forming viewing slots elongated in thedirection of a longitudinal axis of said cylinder; a like plurality ofobjects mounted to said cylinder interiorly thereof, each of saidobjects being associated with one of said viewing slots; and structuremounting said cylinder for rotation thereof around the longitudinal axisat a high angular velocity to enable viewing of said objects throughsaid slots.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality is threeand said objects are identical.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein eachsaid object is one of an inscription, a picture, a three-dimensionalobject, a display of a running inscription, a mobile picture, a mobilethree-dimensional object and any combination thereof.
 4. The device ofclaim 3, wherein each said object is deformed from a shape in which itis to appear through said slots in said rotating cylinder.
 5. The deviceof claim 1, wherein said cylinder is one of (a) a tube made of a dark,non-shiny material with cutouts therein forming said slots and (b) acolorless transparent tube covered with a dark, non-shiny material inregions between said slots.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein: saidcylinder includes a top cover and a bottom cover secured to said tubewith screws ; said covers have boreholes therethrough for permitting thecirculation of air through said cylinder as it rotates; and saidstructure includes a frame and an electric motor mounted to said frameand having an axle for rotating said cylinder in bearings.
 7. A displaydevice for providing object visibility from all sides, the devicecomprising: a cylinder having an opaque surface interrupted by aplurality of transparent sections section forming a viewing slots slotelongated in the direction of a longitudinal axis of said cylinder; anelectronic display mounted to said cylinder interiorly thereof, saiddisplay including a plurality of selectively illuminated columns S₁, S₂,. . . S_(N) S_(n) viewable through said viewing slot; structure mountingsaid cylinder for rotation thereof around the longitudinal axis at apredetermined angular velocity to enable successive viewing of saidcolumns of said electronic display through said slot; and circuitry foroperating said electronic display to illuminate said columns of saiddisplay in sequence, with said column S₁ of said display beingilluminated when an angle α₁ is formed between a viewer and said slot,said column S₂ of said display being illuminated when an angle α₂ isformed between a viewer and said slot, until said column S_(n) of saiddisplay is illuminated at an angle α_(n) between a viewer and said slot,wherein each column of said display is illuminated for a time intervalsuch that said display is visible only in one direction at a viewingangle β partially around a circumference of said cylinder.